The state of Utah began making its case Thursday for keeping custody of two children of a prominent polygamist and one of his at least 14 wives.
In a juvenile court trial, the state accuses John Daniel Kingston, member of a secretive clan, and his wife Heidi Foster of a decade-long pattern of abusing and neglecting their 10 children.
Two daughters, ages 15 and 13, ran away from home after they were threatened with beatings for getting their ears pierced, according to testimony.
The two girls, who are in state custody, provided taped testimony that is not available to the public because of their age. Court proceedings in the case are open to the public, but some documents, including the petition filed by the state alleging neglect and abuse, are not.
Foster has been investigated by the Utah Department of Child and Family Services at least three times since 1994, and found each time to have neglected her children by not providing enough supervision or a clean home.
In 1994, Foster left six children, ages 1 though 6, with a 9-year-old baby sitter, according to testimony. Investigators also found rotting food, flies and dirty diapers in the house.
Neither state-appointed guardian Kristin Brewer nor attorneys representing Kingston and Foster commented to reporters outside the courtroom. The trial was to continue Friday.
In 1999, Kingston pleaded no contest to felony child abuse after beating his 16-year-old daughter for running away from a prearranged polygamous marriage to his brother, David O. Kingston. He was sentenced to 28 weeks in jail.
The Kingston clan, called the Latter-Day Church of Christ, includes an estimated 1,200 members. The secretive group has amassed a $150 million business empire, running companies that include pawn shops, restaurant supply stores, dairies and mines throughout northern Utah.